Reptiles · Squamata · Anguidae

Slow Worm

Anguis fragilis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

For all that it looks like a snake, it is in fact a legless lizard, told apart by its movable eyelids and its ability to shed its tail. It is one of the longest-lived reptiles in the world for its small size.

Weight

20 g – 100 g

Size

40 cm – 50 cm

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestGrasslandInsectivore Variable activity Solitary Reptile Temperate forest Grassland

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Fun facts

anatomíaIt is a legless lizard often mistaken for a snake, able to shed its tail to escape a predator as many other lizards do.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Grassland, heath, open woodland and gardens across much of Europe and western Asia
Birth weight: Exact weight at birth not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Precocial, pale gold with a silver belly at birth, 7-10 cm in total length
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years
Gestation / incubation: Internal gestation; the young born live, wrapped in a membrane that tears as they emerge
Litter / clutch size: 3 to 20 young per litter (most commonly 8-12)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 54 years in captivity

Sources consulted: The Wildlife Trusts; ResearchGate (reproductive ecology Iberian study); First-Nature; Wildlife Vagabond; A-Z Animals; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; Grokipedia

Where to find it

See its range on the interactive map

Best time: From March to October, mostly after rain and at dusk; it is often found under stones, sheets of metal and boards in meadows and along field edges.